# Organizational Outsiders By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2022-08-25 Some organizational positions are inherently isolating. Management is one of those positions. Whether one advances through the organizational ranks or one is an external hire, once in a management position one is to a degree isolated from those one manages. In theory, this allows managers to be more objective in the execution of judgment when it comes to decisions and discipline. Analysts can also find themselves organizationally isolated. Depending on the [[structure]] of the organization, analysts can be a staff function that is applied where and as needed. What this means in practice is that an analyst goes from a “home office” of analysts and is inserted into a foreign part of the organization to conduct analysis. If analytics is a low-density/high-demand function this type of approach makes sense. It allows for the scarce analytic resources to be directed to the most essential organizational concerns without each division or unit having to hire its own analyst. Additionally, as business units might not have enough problems requiring the application of analytics to warrant a full-time analyst, this resource can be shared to ensure full employment. While efficient, this approach requires that analysts become comfortable with being an organizational outsider. Analysts often function as internal, organizational consultants. Organizations can benefit from this dynamic. Analysts are part of the organization, so they have [[knowledge]] and context for understanding, but they are often not of the specific department or functional area in which the project is taking place, so they are also external. How might one capture the benefits of this situation? The application of analytics in these situations benefits from allowing the analyst to assess and [[critique]] freely the situation. Becoming comfortable with one’s organizational isolation allows one to more fully embrace the unique opportunities that come with it. #### Related Items [[Management]] [[Analytics]] [[Outsider]] [[Isolation]] [[Business]]